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Same goes for me. Last year was my first time participating, and I'd love to be part of another one. I also second everything Rob said in a later comment about being excited to just be included whether you decide to weigh votes or not.

Thank you Rob. I hadn't read the earlier posts; I only looked at the list and asked for Joe vs the Volcano because it wasn't crossed off. As long as you asked for it first, you keep it if Jeremy doesn't respond. But thank you again.

Rob, also I'm sure from what you wrote above that you're the one who nominated Red Beard. I've been a Kurosawa fan for a long time, but somehow that one fell through the cracks. I don't remember ever even hearing about until looking it up after you nominated it. I agree whole heartedly with your assessment of the waking up in it. I would extend that to the girl he treats too who wakes up from the abusive situation she's endured to a new world where kindness and goodness exist, and the changes in her behavior that result from that awakening are remarkable but very believable. So, I hope Red Beard is on the list too.

Joe versus the Volcano is one of the movies I watched because of this list that I probably wouldn't have otherwise. Having done that, I hope it makes the list. Not only the prayer that you mention, Rob, but the whole story is a very real process of spiritual awakening in the midst of bizarre, fantastic world created. That's an incredible achievement that has been overlooked way too long. Thank you (or who ever nominated it) for your nomination that pushed me to see this great movie.

Pressure Point is streaming on AmazonPrime. It hasn't received a second yet, and I think the reason is probably the same as what NBooth thinks about I Don't Want to Sleep Alone. Pressure Point gives a unique, very dark type of awakening as it shows the process of a Neo-Nazi's indoctrination and the fear that consumes his psychologist, the psychologist being afraid of his own anger and hurt, afraid that he may be capable of waking up in the same way as his client.

I've hesitated and held out on nominating what is probably the most popular movie of all time, because in most regards it just doesn't need to be on another list. But when we're talking about waking up, and specifically about spiritual awakenings, I don't think there's ever been a moment in any movie that reflects this theme in quite the same profound way as when Han Solo says to Luke, "May the force be with you," showing that Han has awakened to the story's spiritual realm through the influence of his friend demonstrating its reality for him throughout the course of the movie. So after a long inner battle over the decision, I nominated Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.

I nominated 127 Hours primarily because of the scene immediately after Aaron escapes. He simply looks up, but this upward look is filmed in such a way to show us that he knows he has awakened, not just to physical freedom from the rock he was stuck under, but a spiritual awakening. The gaze shows us that in his helpless state, he experienced something of a spiritual reality that he is now awakened to and acknowledging.

Title: 127 HoursDirector: Danny BoyleYear: 2010Language: English IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1542344/?ref_=nv_sr_1
YouTube Link (a clip of/trailer for the film):
Link to the A&F thread on the film (if there is one):

I nominated Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Li Mu Bai is struggles in his deep search for a spiritual enlightenment which he views as always contrary to his feelings. This leads him to constantly restrain himself from the woman he loves. When he opens himself up to honesty with his feelings and with her, he experiences a type of spiritual awakening much different from the one he seeks and it becomes the catalyst for all three of the film's main characters to wake up in their own ways.

I nominated Captains Courageous. The child, left to himself with too much money in a school for rich kids but no idea how to actually make it in the real world. When he accidentally goes overboard his father's ship, he is rescued by a man who becomes a real father figure to him. His near drowning is the first step in waking up to the real world, to relationships, to the value of work, and how to live interdependently in community.